My time at Reds spring training is coming to an end. Today was my last full day at the Reds spring training complex. A chunk of the morning was spent interviewing Reds general manager Dick Williams. The Cincy GM was sympathetic to the players who’s names are swirling in trade rumors, but insisted he keeps them in on the loop and maintains an open door policy.

Williams said he does like the roster he has heading into the regular season, but concedes it would be a surprise to compete in a division with the loaded Chicago Cubs, Saint Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates. The Reds are in a rebuilding mode, but that’s not to say they wont try to win every game.

I also spent some time with the new Dayton Dragons manager. Dick Schoefield talked about what he’s doing at spring training while he waits for his team to be assigned. He spends most of his days helping in any way he can, from hitting infield practice to picking Reds manager Bryan Price’s brain.

I ended the day with a drive over to Goodyear Ball Park. This is the first time I ever covered Reds spring training when no cactus league games were played. It’s a beautiful park and I’m glad I got a chance to see it before I go.

The Reds will play the Indians in the first cactus league game of the spring this Tuesday, the games start to count for real April 4th, when Cincinnati host the Philadelphia Phillies on opening day.

I leave spring training with the best coverage I’ve ever had! I interviewed every single projected starter, the manager, the GM and even sweet Lou Piniella. Thanks for the memories, see you next year!

Reds spring training started with a smile as players posed for the camera at the annual picture day. Topps baseball cards was on hand as well as the photographers who took pictures for the programs and media guides.

The highlight of the day was the return of Lou Piniella, the former Reds manager who led Cincinnati to it’s last world series championship back in 1990 will be a special advisor with the club. Lou talked about how proud he was to be back in the Reds organization and hopes to make a small contribution in getting the team back on the winning track.

Piniella told a story about having a bet with Ken Griffey junior with the loser having to supply a big steak dinner. Lou won the bet, and junior paid him back by putting a live cow in his office!

Piniella said he regrets his tantrums and base throwing antics, but was still able to laugh it all off. I asked him if he missed managing and he quickly responded “No”.

Trade talk took a back seat to a good workout around the Reds spring training facility, Jay Bruce looked as comfortable as ever in right field and Brandon Phillips must have the best smile in all of major league baseball.

Tuesday was an exciting day at Reds spring training. The full squad reported including Jay Bruce who was nearly traded to the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday night. Bruce told me he didn’t fear a trade saying “I love change, I think going status-quo is the most inhibiting thing you can possibly kind of take in as a person if there does come a time to change (teams) I welcome the opportunity”.

Second baseman Brandon Phillips who was also the center of trade talks this off season seemed very happy to still be playing for Cincinnati saying “It feels good just to be here and put on this Reds jersey that I really love I’m just happy to be here”

Manager Bryan Price says he expects Homer Bailey to be back in the starting rotation by early May. I asked Homer what it’s like to be the veteran among so many young pitcher and his response was “there goes the neighborhood”. Homer is always good for a laugh.

Joey Votto also sat down to talk and was just as funny as Bailey. I said to the Reds first baseman, “a lot of new young blood in here, you were young once, what’s that like?”. His response, “I still am young, single, no kids, good looking”. Votto said he is not happy so many of his friends and teammates were traded away, but hopes it’s the start of something good. Votto also said he expects to win now, we’ll see about that.

On a personal note, I had Chinese for lunch and my fortune cookie, had no fortune in it, not really sure how to take that!

Sunny skies and optimism were everywhere you looked at the Reds spring training complex in Goodyear Arizona today. I spoke with over a half dozen players this afternoon with all of them agreeing that the team is rebuilding, but that doesn’t mean they will be bad.

Reds catcher and former Dragon, Devon Mesoraco was quick to point out they still have some very talented proven major league players such as Jay Bruce, Joey Votto, Homer Bailey and Brandon Phillips.

My favorite part of the day was when outfielder Billy Hamilton was asked if he’d consider playing wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals, Hamilton said he would love to return kicks and told Marvin Lewis to “give me a call”. When asked if he was serious, he said yes, followed by a lot of laughter.

Manager Bryan Price was a little more serious today. The Reds skipper will have a lot of young pitchers on his team this year and he plans on using all of them to their fullest. Price told the media he is against ever “shutting down” a pitcher due to too many innings pitched, but doesn’t expect that to be an issue on his staff.